Aberdeen Grammar School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
|
| Motto | Bon Record, a variation of the Aberdeen City motto, Bon Accord |
|---|---|
| Established | 1263 (earliest record) |
| Type | State School |
| Rector | Mr Graham Legge |
| Staff | 100 (approx) |
| Location | Aberdeen, United Kingdom |
| Telephone | +44 (0)1224 642299 |
| Website | http://www.grammar.org.uk |
Aberdeen Grammar School is one of twelve secondary schools in the City of Aberdeen, Scotland, the oldest in Aberdeen and one of the oldest in the United Kingdom, with a history spanning almost 750 years It has fostered minds such as that of the poet Lord Byron, more recently the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Robin Cook.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Founding
Believed to have been founded in 1263 (but possibly earlier), Aberdeen Grammar Schools earliest documented date is in the Burgh Records of 1418, when the Lord Provost and Council nominated John Homyll as "Master of the Schools", in place of Andrew of Chivas.
The school was originally located on Schoolhill, near the site of the current Robert Gordon's College where the curriculum consisted of Latin, Greek and ancient geography.
[edit] Recent History (post-1863)
During 1861-63 the school moved to its current quarters in Skene Street, a large granite building in Scottish baronial style officially opened on 23 October 1863. This allowed expansion of the curriculum to include English, mathematics, modern languages, art and gymnastics.
Other buildings and extensions have been added to the 1863 building over time. These include the building now known as the Modern Language Block, although this was originally a primary school. In the 1960s, new additions such as the science block, attached to the west wing, the theatre and the dining hall were added in a style contemporary to the period.
Originally a fee-paying boys' school, the Grammar became comprehensive and co-educational in the 1973-74 session when girls were first admitted. At this point it was renamed Rubislaw Academy, but was reverted to the traditional name a few years later after public pressure.
In 1986, the original building was devastated by a fire, destroying most of the rooms including the large library, a collection of Byron's notebooks, the trophy room and other classrooms, though the historic façade was mostly undamaged. The school was rebuilt a few years later, with modern facilities.
The school has the Rubislaw Playing Fields at a site about half a mile away. Shared with the former pupils' club, the location has rugby pitches with a stand, football pitches, grass hockey pitches and an Astroturf hockey pitch built in 2005.
[edit] Present Day
Today the school is run by Aberdeen City Council in accordance with the Scottish Executive's educational guidelines for state schools. In the 1998-99 academic year, the education of each pupil cost £2690 for the year.
[edit] Subjects and qualifications
The curriculum provides for a wide range of subjects, and pupils are presented for Standard Grade, Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher examinations through the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). There is an emphasis on the more traditional subjects such as mathematics, English and modern languages.
[edit] Pupils and catchment area
There are currently 1154 pupils (2005) attending the school between the ages of approximately 12 to 18, the majority having attending the four primary schools in the catchment area. These are Ashley Road Primary (website), Gilcomstoun Primary (website), Mile-End Primary (website), Skene Square Primary and St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary (a faith school). (website). Children from other areas attend after successful application by parents.
[edit] Extracurricular activities and sport
When starting school pupils are allocated into one of the three houses; Byron, Keith-Dunn, or Melvin. Post 2005 Keith and Dunn were two separate houses, however in previous years the house system had been relegated to mostly sporting events. The system was revised in order to bring the tradition of school houses back into the everyday running of the school. Competitions take place between houses, particularly in sport, during the annual interhouse games afternoons during the month just before Easter where houses compete in Rugby, Football and Hockey. Recently under the new rector other activities have been included into house competitions.
[edit] Sport
The school has a strong sporting tradition, and has a particular emphasis on boys' rugby union and girls' hockey. The school has won national competitions in rugby and football and has a strong link with the sport section former pupils club with whom many pupils play.
Each pupil spends one afternoon per week at the Rubislaw games field with their year. The sporting year is split into Winter games (from the end of the summer holidays until the start of the Easter holidays) and Summer games (between the end of the Easter holidays and the start of the summer holidays).
Boys play rugby during winter in first and second year, with the option to continue with rugby or change to football or hockey in third year. There is sometimes also a small running group. In summer they can choose between softball, athletics or cricket.
Girls play hockey during winter in first and second year and have the choice in third year between continuing with hockey or changing to a mixed sports games where they can play tennis or go swimming. In summer they can play softball or athletics.
In basketball the school has a strong team linked to the former pupils Greywolves team.
There is also representation in golf, swimming, badminton, tennis and netball.
[edit] Culture
A yearly School Musical is performed by the Face the Music society; recent performances include Grease, Annie Get Your Gun and Snork a locally written musical. There is also a solely pupil-run theatre group which performs each year as part of the Pied Piper society.
There are musical evenings twice a year which showcase the school's musical talent. There are a concert band, jazz band, junior and senior choirs and a string orchestra. Lessons are available in brass, woodwind, strings, piano, guitar and percussion.
The school has won the British Debating Championship in recent years.
[edit] Uniform and Colours
[edit] Basic Uniform
The uniform features a navy blue blazer with the school logo on the breast pocket. A blue, white and red tie is worn with a white shirt. Black trousers are worn by boys, with girls having the option of either a skirt or trousers. Black shoes are compulsory.
[edit] Colours
Colours designate achievement or rank. Pupils awarded Colours for achievement wear their uniform with gray ties and ribbon if the award is for skill in the arts, and blue ties and red ribbons for skill in sport. The colours are awarded in three skill levels:
- Junior Colours, generally awarded to those in third and fourth year; a ribbon sewn onto the top of the blazer pocket above the badge.
- Half Colours, awarded to fifth and sixth years; a tie of the appropriate colour to replace the normal one.
- Full Colours, only given to senior pupils; a ribbon sewn around all the edges of the blazer.
Colours for rank are:
- Prefects: a white and red ribbon up the sleeve from the cuff.
- Sixth Years (who are not prefects): a single red ribbon up the sleeve from the cuff.
- Head Boy and Girl: two red ribbons and one white ribbon up the sleeve from the cuff.
[edit] Trivia
In 2002, a small number of sixth years painted an entire temporary classroom block, pink, during the middle of the night before their last day, as part of the so called "muck-up day tradition". Painted on all four walls from floor to roof, it led to a pupil being arrested, caught in the act- although charges were never actually brought.
In 2003, the PETA animal rights group held a protest outside the school to try and persuade children to stop drinking milk. Over 100 pupils held a counter protest pelting the activists with milk and chanting their own pro-milk slogans. Police had to be called to save the PETA group including one man dressed as a cow. The following day, national newspapers such as the Daily Record and The Scotsman (link to article) covered the story. The local Press and Journal newspaper ran an article coupled with a biased editorial towards the pupils.
[edit] Rectors
- Mr Graham Legge (2004-present)
- Mr William Johnston
- Mr Robert Gill
[edit] Head Boys and Head Girls
-
Head Boy Head Girl Depute Head Boy Depute Head Girl 2006 - 2007 Gordon Russell Helen Clunas John Dargie Carla Plasberg-Hill 2005 - 2006 Andrew Henderson Nathalie Graham Richard Dargie Jennie Love 2004 - 2005 Peter Cross Rose Grogan Andrew Dean Fiona Taylor 2003 - 2004 Michael Lloyd Gayle Harriman Grant Jamieson Lynne Wightman
[edit] Former Pupils' Club
The school has a large and active Former Pupils' club which has members all over the world and a clubhouse at Queens Road opposite the extensive Rubislaw Playing Fields.
The Club is home to one of Scotland's most successful rugby union teams, the Aberdeen GSFP RFC, which plays at Rubislaw Playing fields.
[edit] Famous alumni
- James Beattie. Professor of Moral Philosophy and Logic at University of Aberdeen, Marischal College.
- Lord Byron, (pupil: 1794-1795). Poet. Famous poems include Childe Harold's Pilgrimage and Don Juan (Byron). Lord Byron’s statue stands infront of the school.
- William Robinson Clark. Dean of Taunton and prebendary of Wells and Professor of Theology, mental and moral philosophy at University of Toronto, Canada.
- Robin Cook. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
- Alexander Cruden, Theologian, author of Cruden's Bible Concordance.
- Sir James Donaldson. Principal of University of St Andrews, Professor of Humanity at University of Aberdeen, Rector of Stirling High School and also Royal High School of Edinburgh.
- David Gregory. Professor of Mathematics at University of Edinburgh, Savilian Professor of Astronomy at University of Oxford. Commentator on Isaac Newton's Principia.
- David William Lacy, (pupil: 1963-1965). Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
- James Legge. First Professor of Chinese at Oxford University.
- James Fraser McLuskey, (pupil: 1920-1931). Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
- David Masson. Scottish writer.
- Andrew J. Milne, (pupil:1844-1846). Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
- David West, (pupil: 1868-1936). Scottish watercolour painter.
[edit] Contact details
- Aberdeen Grammar School, Skene Street, Aberdeen AB10 1HT.
- Tel: +44 (0)1224 642299
- Fax: +44 (0)1224 627413
- Email: office@grammar.org.uk
[edit] References
Much of the information in this article is adapted from the school's prospectus and the annual magazine of the Former Pupils' Club. The prospectus is publicly available from the school website in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format [1]. This has statistics including exam results, pupil numbers and details of teachers and the departments in which they serve.
